2099: Serenity

Chapter 1

The night was quiet. It made a nice change from how so many of his nights had been, but Alec knew better than to think things would stay that way. Sipping his whiskey, he listened out for the moment when it was all going to change, and it was no surprise when he heard the arrival of what was probably three bounty hunters, although that didn’t make it any less annoying. Not having to deal with them would have made for a much more enjoyable night. Getting the problem sorted was going to take time, more time than he wanted it to, and it was almost easier to just keep killing the hunters who thought they could take him. Especially as it meant he’d have less competition to deal with.

Are we going to be doing this the easy way or the hard way?

Alec turned, studying each one of the hunters in turn, knowing that none of them would be able to take him. One of them, probably the leader of the three, was wearing one of those stupid visors, which was just a sign of their reliance on being more than human. It was a mistake. You’re worth more alive than you are dead.

Of course I am. Keeping his voice level meant they wouldn’t know what he was planning, and that was the way he always kept himself safe. No one ever knew what to expect from him. That’s always the way when you’re dealing with someone like me.

Standing, almost acting as though he would make it easy for them, Alec shared a look with the guy behind the bar. Causing the least damage possible was something Alec cared about when he was in a place like that, because he didn’t want anyone innocent to get hurt. There had been too many times when the hunter didn’t care enough about what was going on around them. Breathing deeply, not wanting to deal with the memories, he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on what needed to be done. He swept one leg out, knocking the first of the hunters off guard, before jumping onto the bar. Having the height advantage was going to make everything much simpler. None of them looked like they’d been expecting him to fight back, which didn’t make any sense. Surely they knew he’d taken out every hunter who’d come after him.

Before they could possibly have known what was happening they were on the ground. Alec slipped his gun back into the holster, and shared another look with the barman. Jumping down, glancing at the bodies as he did, Alec shook his head. They hadn’t been ready for him, even though they’d obviously thought they could take him. It was almost disappointing. Had they been prepared, it would have been a much more interesting fight. Sound started to fill the bar once more. Until then he hadn’t realized everyone else had been silently watching him. The likelihood was that someone had already been called to deal with the mess. At least it wasn’t going to be him.

Knowing he needed to leave Alec finished his whiskey. He hated to drink it so fast, but he didn’t have any other option. Sighing, he raked a hand through his head, nodding to the barman. Put it on my tab. He glanced at the bodies again. Sorry for the mess.

Without waiting for a response he moved. There was one place he could go to crash for the night. Most of the time Alec didn’t dare to stay anywhere for longer than that one night, and there were plenty of people he knew who’d be able to deal with any hunters who turned up on their doorstep looking for him. Even the most soft looking of his known associates was more than capable of keeping a couple of idiot hunters out. It seemed like the hunters going after him were the very dregs of the group, because the others, the ones who truly knew him, wouldn’t be stupid enough to think he was going to be an easy take. He was going to be one of the hardest takes they’d ever chosen to do, so they simply didn’t choose to do it. Unfortunately, there were so many hunters that it didn’t matter. The three dead would quickly be replaced by more idiots.

Glancing up at the rain, wishing for once it would wash away the smog, Alec walked down streets he knew better than he knew his own hands. Screens flashed, showing new bounties, old bounties, and the occasional exciting advert for one of the megacorps. Nothing was worth paying attention to. Each one of those bounties was one he already knew about. He kept up with that information better than he did anything else. It was almost amusing when his own face appeared beside him, although he had never been that pleased with the artwork. He was much better looking in real life.

Taking one last turn, Alec found himself in front of a door. Knocking, probably a little less gently than he should have done, he waited until the peephole opened. An eye appeared. I need a place to crash. No response. Of course there was no response. Half smiling, he pulled a small vial of red liquid out of his coat. Tonight would be nice.

Moments after the eye disappeared, peephole closing, iron bars were being moved, and then the door opened. Alec, my friend, it’s a pleasure to see you. Sorry for the miscommunication. For a moment there I thought you were someone else entirely.

Raising an eyebrow, Alec tossed the vial at DeWitt. There was a second when Alec was almost certain it would end up on the floor, but then DeWitt managed to get a hold of it, claw snapping shut around the glass. Stepping through the door, Alec waited until DeWitt had replaced the metal bars. It was safer for both of them if his safety precautions were in place, not that they were really all that much of a precaution. Alec knew people who had much better set ups, but DeWitt was always his best chance of a bed, even if it did mean enabling the man’s addiction.

Can I get you a drink?

You know what I have.

Nodding, DeWitt pulled out a bottle of whiskey Alec knew was only used when he was there. How’s business been?

Laughing, Alec shook his head, thinking once more of the three bodies in the bar. They would have been dealt with. Everything would be tidy once more, but he would always remember the idiots who thought they could take him. I’ve spent more time running than I have done hunting. It’s cutting into profits.

A regrettable incident, and one that wasn’t truly your fault. DeWitt shook his head, passing the glass over to Alec, and the scent of whiskey filled his nose once more. At least it was the best of the best. It is something you can deal with.

The dregs of the hunters are coming after me. I’m not worried. It’s just annoying. Sipping the whiskey, Alec studied DeWitt. I’m not just here for a social call. There’s a bounty out for the son of a Brick executive.

Big job. Is it worth your while?

Nothing all that complicated about it, apart from getting into the complex. Alec’s eyes met with DeWitt’s. The place was built when the father was still at Brick, so they didn’t cut any corners, and there are a few full time birds flying around. I’m pretty sure I have a way in. I just need a cypher card.

Unfortunately, as we both know, I’m retired. There are other people you could get a card from.

You’re the best. Alec held out another vial. Do we have a deal, DeWitt?

Silence. DeWitt, staring at the vial, nodded after a few moments, because he was never going to say no to more. I guess I could help an old friend out one last time.

Just as Alec expected, DeWitt reached out to take the vial, but his claw snatched at empty air, the vial already back in Alec’s jacket. Never pay before the work was done. He smiled. Once I have my card it’s all yours. Downing the rest of his whiskey, he stood. I’m going to bed.

Walking through DeWitt’s place was nothing more than a reminder of what had happened. Of how one mistake had led to him being one of the most wanted hunters, and that meant Alec needed to get the bigger jobs done, as a reminder of who he was. The more the idiots tried to take him the more annoying it was. Killing them was simple enough, but it wouldn’t stop them. He’d just have to keep killing them, one group at a time, seeing that they’d managed to convince each other that they were skilled enough to take him. Likelihood was he wouldn’t be that tough a job. Everyone who said it was happened to be a wimp.

Alec remembered having those conversations more than once back in the early days, but when they did happen he was the one who did the work to prepare for what was coming. He’d be ready for any eventuality, especially that of the target being more complicated than it seemed, because he knew what it meant to be a hunter. For years his father had walked the same path, until… well, that was something so much easier not to think about. The memories were hard enough to deal with at the best of times, and he wasn’t going through one of them. At least he’d never made the decision to try to settle down and be a hunter at the same time.

Pulling his coat off, Alec slumped down onto the cot. Damned uncomfortable things, but at least it was a place he could get some sleep. That was, of course, if he could stop thinking, and normally he couldn’t. His mind would just keep on going. Old techniques his mom had taught him didn’t work any longer, because there was too many memories connected to what it meant to be a hunter who was being hunted. Had he been like his father… he shook his head. He wasn’t like his father. He was never going to be like his father. Having someone who relied on him wasn’t ever going to happen. He was a loner most of the time for a reason, and nothing was going to change the way things were. Sighing, he focused on one technique that had been successful before. Focusing on one muscle at a time he relaxed his entire body, and once he was he hoped it would be enough for him to be able to at least get a couple of hours. A tired hunter was often a stupid hunter.

Instead, he found himself staring up at the ceiling. Alec did feel a little better than he had before, but when he closed his eyes he saw it all over again. That moment. The day he made the decision he was going to become a hunter, if only so he could make the hunter who’d taken his family from him pay for what he’d done, and that was a choice he was never going to regret. Even before that he’d been thinking it was a good idea to walk that path. To follow in the footsteps of his father, who’d been very successful, until the day he made one mistake—so similar to the mistake Alec had made. It was that one mistake that had changed all their lives forever. They’d gone from one place to the next, knowing that the time would come when it would all be sorted, but that time didn’t come soon enough. Instead, one hunter had found them. One man had been enough, and that was when Alex made the decision he was going to be stronger. He was going to be more capable. He was going to rely on his humanity to be the best of all the hunters, and so far he seemed to have managed it.

Chapter 2

Morning brought with it the pain of sleeping in one of those things, and Alec pushed himself to move. Stretching out would fix that in no time at all, and if he had the card then he knew what his next step needed to be, because the sooner that job was done the better. He needed the money. Raking a hand through his hair, he made his way into the living space, where DeWitt was watching the BHN. There was no way for Alec to get away from it. There was no way for anyone to really get away from it, but that was the way of the world. Sometimes he hated it.

Bounty Alert. Armand Girbach, rapist.

Alec shook his head. He hated rapists, and back when he first started he often took on rapist bounties in order to make them pay for what they’d done. Known to have raped the daughter of a Goddess Goods manager. Well, that might not be entirely true, but often with bounties like that they were more certain of who it was that had committed the crime. He’s worth 3 million to those who take him in dead, but for those who take him in alive, and missing a certain necessary appendage, then he’s worth 6 million.

Not unheard of, and Alec smiled. Goddess Goods was known to have people who were utterly ruthless, especially when it came to rapists, so it was almost to be expected that they would do something like that. Had he not been busy with his other job he would have gone after Armand Girbach. The money was definitely worth it. 6 million alive and without a penis. A simple job. He glanced into the kitchen, where DeWitt appeared to be making breakfast, listening to the new bounties like he might actually go out there to do one of the jobs. Only he’d always been the guy who liked to be on the more technical side of things. Unlike Alec, he wasn’t much of a fan of dealing with blood or weapons or anything that he really needed to use in order to be a bounty hunter. Some people were like that.

Morning, DeWitt.

Ah, I was wondering when you might wake up. There’s coffee, and I can make you something to eat if you’re hungry.

Instead, Alec looked over at a steel table to see a blue and white card on there. That mine?

Yes, it is. It was a challenge to get right, but I don’t see any reason why it won’t work for you if you are determined to do the job.

Good.

DeWitt turned back to his breakfast, and Alec, needing to move, stepped past the table, picking the card up as he went. The vial was dropped down where the card had been before he made his way out the door. Once DeWitt realized he was alone he could deal with the iron bars. People knew who he was, so they were unlikely to do anything stupid. He was, even if he had retired, still someone that multiple hunters went to for help, knowing he was the best. For a moment Alec looked down at the card. As he was the best, DeWitt probably was one of the only people who had the skill to create that card. There was no way to be certain it would work until it was tested out, but Alec had hope that it would all go the way he planned.

In one swift movement Alec checked his pistol magazine and sighed. Of course he was running low. At times it felt like he was always running low, especially in more recent times, but it was what it was. There was nothing he could do to change what had happened. His only option was to keep doing what he was doing. Like always. He made his way from DeWitt’s place to his favorite ammo store… and stopped. Well, that was definitely new. Instead of the normal door being there, the way he expected, there was something that looked much more technologically advanced. That just meant he was going to need to knock a little harder to get anyone to hear him. Stepping forward, wondering what had led to the change, he knocked on the door like he had done so many times before. When there was no response he glanced at the spray painted words on the wall beside him. Someone else might have thought that he was the one being told to piss off, but he knew he was one of Yuki’s best customers, so there was no chance it would be there for him.

Shaking his head, almost amused, Alec knocked twice more, and that was when the door reacted. The firearms came out first. He wasn’t quite sure exactly what they were. Mentally, he went with cannons, but he wasn’t sure that was right. Not that it mattered what they were. He knew that they’d kill him. A camera followed them, sweeping close to him.

Can’t you read, asshole?

Raising an eyebrow, Alec smiled. Yuki, it’s me.

With those words the camera scanned him. That was something that happened in so many places that he was more than used to it, although the sensation of the laser going over his face was still uncomfortable. Most people said they couldn’t feel. Alec always had been able to, and he wasn’t sure why, but it was just one of the stranger things about him. Along with his humanity. Most of the people he dealt with had at least one augmentation. Some did it because they had to, for whatever reason, and the rest did it to be better, when they weren’t any better than a normal human being. Just being they could see in the dark better, or had a better aim when throwing, or… the camera disappeared back into the door as he thought, before the door, in a grinding of gears, opened for him.

Alec stepped into the shop, and seconds later the door closed behind him. The sound was loud, but nothing he hadn’t dealt with before, so he waited, knowing that Yuki was just being careful. When she threw herself at him, hugging him the way she always did, he smiled. Okay, so what’s with the door?

People are idiots. Stepping back, Yuki returned his smile. Not that it matters. Come to replace Spike?

Every time he visited she asked the same question. Alec shook his head. Just need some more ammo.

How long have you had that firearm? She laughed. The newer Hatchwater is definitely worth the money. Better targeting, reliability’s up, it links up to augs… which would be utterly useless for you, but the rest is good. Maybe you should have a play around. Test out some other weapons. See what it is that makes you hard now.

Just make it quick, Yuki. I have business to deal with. He glanced back at the door. Anything I can do to help?

Had you been here a few days ago the answer probably would have been yes. I knew you were busy, though, so I simply went with the door option. Yuki shrugged. The Scorpion Gang made the decision they were going to get into hunting, for whatever reason it is they think it would be good for them, and a couple of their members came to me for their new guns. Unfortunately, when you put good guns in the hands of idiots it’s likely to go wrong.

I might have had a run in with them last night. They seemed to think they were capable of taking me.

She laughed, shaking her head. They weren’t even capable of taking me. First, of course, they came to threaten me. Told me that my guns were the problem. She made a face. No, my guns weren’t the problem. The fact they didn’t know what it was they were doing was the problem, because the target they were trying to return alive ended up very dead.

Not just a little dead?

Considering what I sold them, there was no chance of him being a little dead. She grinned. Giving me some warning meant I had a chance to buff up security. Knowing the right people in the right places always helps. The door went in overnight, so when they returned the next day they had a little more trouble getting in than they expected, and not even the C4 they brought with them was going to do them any good. Well, it might have, had my guns not dealt with them before they could do anything more.

Alec glanced at the blood that he’d been actively ignoring. All of them?

Most of them. One survived, and, well, you know how it is. I can’t seem weak. So I fought fire with fire. Chopped off his dick, stuffed it in his mouth, let him join his buddies. She shrugged. I haven’t had any issues since, so I’m going to count that as a win for me.

No, most people wouldn’t try to do anything stupid when you’d made it so very obvious how it was you deal with stupid people. Alec smiled. Next time you have an issue with anyone call me. I’m more than happy to help out an old friend.

Giving him another smile, Yuki bounced over to the counter, pressed a button, and up came all the guns she had for sale. What do you want to play with first?

Knowing he wasn’t going to ever switch out Spike, Alec stepped over to the counter, wanting to see what was out there. Learning more about what he could come up against helped him to be ready for anything that might be thrown at him, and he glanced at some of the less technical weapons. You’re still selling throwing stars?

You should know better than that. She stepped over to them and pulled them out from behind the glass. These, my friend, are much better than your traditional throwing star, so if you would allow me to demonstrate.

She pressed another button, and a dummy came up on the other side of the room. Yuki bounced onto the counter, stars in hand, and Alec watched her. It was impossible not to watch her. One at a time she threw the stars in the general direction of the dummy, but none of them were going to hit it. Then, like with so many things, so new tech kicked in; the stars went right where it was they were supposed to hit. Seconds later all six of the stars were poking out of the dummy, which was definitely looking like it might need to be replaced soon.

Nice. Alec raised an eyebrow. The cheating version. His eyes met with Yuki’s. Don’t tell me, they also work well with augs.

Course they do. She shook her head. You are the only person I know who doesn’t have any augs, Alec, so these are for the world we live in now. Maybe you don’t like it, but you don’t have a choice.

I know. He studied the stars. How do they work?

Do you really think the creators of these would give away all their secrets?

Yuki, I know you better than that. Given a couple of hours with them, you would have worked out exactly what it was they’d done to make that a possibility.

Laughing, she bounced back off the counter. "Well, saying that, I did have a little look-see, because I do like to know. I’m selling them, so I like to be able to protect myself, and these babies are very nicely created. I would have liked to have been behind it